UPDATE: Head pastor of Harvest Vineyard Ministries arrested

Published: Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 02:43 PM.

CRESTVIEW — The head pastor at Harvest Vineyard Ministries was arrested Thursday after a monthlong investigation by Crestview Police led to a child neglect case.

Pastor Alex E. Thompson, 51, was arrested at his home and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm, according to a police news release. He was taken to Okaloosa County Jail and released Thursday afternoon on $40,000 bond.

Harvest Vineyard, which is on North Main Street, is a group home for more than 80 members. Some residents are convicted felons and sex offenders and lived in the facility with the children, the news release reported.

Thompson was charged due to “a multitude of neglect issues pertaining to his responsibilities,” including failing to report that a child under the ministry’s care was missing to law enforcement or the parents, said police spokesman Lt. Andrew Schneider.

Thompson lied to the parents, saying the child had not earned phone privileges when the child was actually missing, Schneider said. Schneider said the child is now at the parents’ out-of-state home.

Police began searching the facility at about 8 a.m., Schneider said. Documents and computer evidence were seized, the news release reported.

During the search, the residents were taken to the sanctuary, identified and released after the search.

Two residents were arrested for active warrants unrelated to the search.

Local fire officials and building inspectors condemned the facility for “multiple life-safety violations, and unsafe or hazardous conditions,” the news release reported.

The residents have been asked to leave the mission. They will be transported to another facility in Covington County, Ala., by Harvest Vineyard staff, the news release reported.

Any residents on probation would need to speak to their probation officer about the move, Schneider said.

The investigation is ongoing.

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CRESTVIEW — The head pastor at Harvest Vineyard Ministries was arrested Thursday after a monthlong investigation by Crestview Police led to a child neglect case.

Pastor Alex E. Thompson, 51, was arrested at his home and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm, according to a police news release. He was taken to Okaloosa County Jail and released Thursday afternoon on $40,000 bond.

Harvest Vineyard, which is on North Main Street, is a group home for more than 80 members. Some residents are convicted felons and sex offenders and lived in the facility with the children, the news release reported.

Thompson was charged due to “a multitude of neglect issues pertaining to his responsibilities,” including failing to report that a child under the ministry’s care was missing to law enforcement or the parents, said police spokesman Lt. Andrew Schneider.

Thompson lied to the parents, saying the child had not earned phone privileges when the child was actually missing, Schneider said. Schneider said the child is now at the parents’ out-of-state home.

Police began searching the facility at about 8 a.m., Schneider said. Documents and computer evidence were seized, the news release reported.

During the search, the residents were taken to the sanctuary, identified and released after the search.

Two residents were arrested for active warrants unrelated to the search.

Local fire officials and building inspectors condemned the facility for “multiple life-safety violations, and unsafe or hazardous conditions,” the news release reported.

The residents have been asked to leave the mission. They will be transported to another facility in Covington County, Ala., by Harvest Vineyard staff, the news release reported.

Any residents on probation would need to speak to their probation officer about the move, Schneider said.